NIH-funded research R15 grant

Improving speech sound perception in children with speech disorders

Official title: Online assessment and enhancement of auditory perception for speech sound errors

Funded at Montclair State University · NIH-10974747 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is helping kids who have trouble being understood when they talk by using fun tools that let them see and hear their speech in real-time, so they can learn to recognize and fix their speech mistakes and improve how they communicate with others.

Quick facts

Grant typeR15 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMontclair State University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Montclair, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2021
Project endAugust 31, 2027
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$473,938
NIH project number2R15DC019775-02
Project IDNIH-10974747 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-20 years who have been diagnosed with residual speech sound disorder.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have speech sound disorders or those whose speech issues are not related to auditory perception may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on children with speech sound disorders who struggle with speech intelligibility. It aims to enhance their auditory perception of speech sounds through innovative biofeedback techniques, allowing them to visualize their speech in real-time and compare it to correct targets. By training these children to recognize and classify their speech errors, the study seeks to improve their communication skills and overall engagement in social and academic settings. The approach combines auditory training with biofeedback to address persistent speech issues that may not have responded to traditional therapies.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve speech intelligibility and communication skills in children with persistent speech sound disorders.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results using similar biofeedback approaches for improving speech sound perception in children with speech disorders.

Where this research is happening

  • Montclair State University
    Montclair, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Hitchcock, Elaine Russo — Montclair State University
  • Study coordinator: Hitchcock, Elaine Russo

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.